Boston Globe reporter Martin Finucane writes that a new study co-authored by MIT researchers provides evidence that the moon’s magnetic field lasted 1 billion years longer than previously thought. “Researchers now believe the moon’s magnetic field existed for a total of at least 2 billion years,” Finucane explains.
A new study co-authored by MIT researchers finds that underground magma triggered the world’s largest mass extinction, reports Howard Lee for The Guardian. Based off their findings, the researchers believe that, “greenhouse gas emissions triggered by magma intrusions...caused the extinction through abrupt global warming and ocean acidification.”
Wired reporter Sian Bradley writes that a study co-authored by MIT researchers shows that the world’s largest mass-extinction was triggered by a massive underground magma pulse. The magma pulse “released dangerous levels of carbon dioxide, methane and sulphur dioxide into the environment and triggered the end of the Permian period.”
In an article for Scientific American, Laura Geggel writes that a new study by MIT researchers shows that the Earth’s mantle is hotter than previously thought. “The finding will help scientists more accurately model Earth's many geodynamic processes, including plate tectonics,” reports Geggel.
In a series of papers, the New Horizons team, which includes MIT researchers, reveals that there may be a slushy subsurface ocean on Pluto, reports Rebecca Boyle for The Atlantic. “The research suggests that many other distant worlds in the Kuiper Belt might also hold inner oceans of water, or other liquids,” Boyle explains.
Researchers involved with the NASA New Horizons mission have uncovered evidence that an ocean of ice water lies beneath Pluto’s heart-shaped basin, reports Irene Klotz for Reuters. Prof. Richard Binzel explains that the findings show that “nature is more creative than we are able to imagine, which is why we go and explore."
Boston Globe reporter Olivia Quintana writes that the NASA New Horizons team, which includes MIT researchers, has collected data that suggests there is a slushy ocean of ice water beneath Pluto’s surface. “I think the big picture is that this is telling us that Pluto is much more complicated, much more fascinating than we ever imagined,” explains Prof. Richard Binzel.
Scientists at MIT and Brown University have discovered the origin of the Orientale basin, the oldest crater on the Moon, according to EFE. The impact of an asteroid 3.8 billion years ago formed a crater that has since “collapsed under the rock fractures and its temperatures forming three concentric rings visible today.”
Kenneth Chang of The New York Times writes about a paper by Professors Oliver Jagoutz and Leigh Royden that suggests the Indian Subcontinent collided with an island arc before reaching Asia: “In the Nature Geoscience paper, Dr. Royden and Dr. Jagoutz show that the island arc could explain the swiftness of India’s travels.”
Wall Street Journal reporter Atish Patel highlights new MIT research indicating that volcanic activity may have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Patel explains that the findings suggest “dinosaurs were already in decline, suffering from the climate change prompted by the volcanic eruptions.”
Researchers have uncovered evidence that volcanic activity could have contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs, reports Joel Achenbach for The Washington Post. Prof. Sam Bowring says the eruption “began just prior to the extinction and continued throughout.”
In a Scientific American podcast, Cynthia Graber reports on new findings from MIT researchers that show the End Permian extinction, the largest mass extinction, was the fastest mass extinction.
New York Times reporter Carl Zimmer examines Sam Bowring’s work to understand the largest mass extinction of animal life. Zimmer reports that Bowring found the extinction lasted less than 60,000 years, which could help researchers identify what triggered the die-off.